Government proposals for education action zones have raised a storm of protest about running education for private profit. But the plans do offer some good opportunities for companies to make a real contribution to Britain’s low standards.
EDUCATION ACTION ZONES
Plans to involve the private sector in funding and managing underachieving schools in areas of disadvantage were published in December by education secretary, David Blunkett MP. The aim of education action zones is to raise standards and each zone will run for three to five years, covering two or three secondary schools and their feeder primaries. They will receive an extra ?250,000 in public grants, with business providing matching sponsorship, and be able to set teacher pay outside national negotiated agreements, including employing ‘superheads’. Partnership forums of local authorities, businesses and parents must submit bids to win action zone status – up to 25 are expected within five years – and then run the scheme if approved. It is intended that some zones will be managed directly by the private sector.
In the USA, companies such as Proctor and Gamble and Arthur Andersen have got directly involved in running schools, while in the UK, city technology colleges are partly financed by business. Michael Barber, head of the government’s School Effectiveness Unit, is stressing the opportunities for firms to get involved. Applications for the first zones are invited by March 20. Contact DfEE Enquiries on 0171 925 5555
FAILING STANDARDS
Despite some improvement in the UK’s education and training standards, all but one of the six National Education and Training Targets will probably be missed by the target date of December 31, 2000. Concerned that the UK is falling behind international competitors, the previous government had set levels of achievement for GCSEs, NVQs and higher level qualifications. The present government published a detailed consultation paper on December 9, proposing a new set of targets with a revised date of 2002, based on levels of attainment for different groups: 16 year olds, 16 to 21, adults and employers. For free copies of the consultation document, contact Prolog on 0845 602 2260
TRUANCY EXEMPTIONS
Schools with significant truancy and disaffection problems among 14 to 16 year olds may be allowed an exemption from the National Curriculum, if they work directly with local companies and colleges on vocational studies. More explicit work-related training before the school leaving age, including work placements, is seen as one way to improve motivation. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority announced a consultation exercise on January 27 on disapplying one or two subjects at Key Stage 4. Contact QCA on 0171 229 1234
YEAR OF READING
The Post Office, W H Smith and Walkers Snack Foods are among companies supporting the National Year of Reading. Launched on January 29, every school is promised an extra ?1,000 for new reading and library books, with a public and media campaign to encourage reading. Beginning in September, companies will support the initiative by carrying the National Year of Reading logo on their packaging and advertising, sponsoring special events and supporting schools’ efforts to raise literacy standards. Contact DfEE Enquiries on 0171 925 5555
SUPERMARKET READING
A scheme to encourage parents to read with their infant children was launched in January at a Sainsbury’s store in London, in partnership with Newham Council. Monitored by the Basic Skills Agency, the project involves discounts on children’s books sold, till receipt advertising, ‘recipe cards’ with reading tips, bookmarks for schools and a series of free in-store readings by leading children’s authors. Contact Peter Aylmer, Newham Education, on 0181 557 8926
SPECIALIST SPONSORSHIP
Education minister, Estelle Morris MP, announced plans on December 18 for a further 33 specialist schools in technology, arts, languages and sports. The schools must raise ?100,000 in private sector sponsorship and produce a 3 year development plan in order to qualify for matched government funding. The whole programme of 250 specialist schools has raised ?30 million so far in private sponsorship. Contact DfEE Enquiries on 0171 925 5555
HOMEWORK CLUBS
Further details of plans for a national network of 8,000 homework clubs by the year 2001 were announced on December 8, coinciding with the launch of the government’s new Social Exclusion Unit. Funded with ?200 million from the National Lottery, the homework clubs will offer supervised study, extra tuition and access to computers. A pilot phase of the scheme started in January, with ?500,000 from NatWest, National Power and BT. Contact DfEE Enquiries on 0171 925 5555
Comment
Unless current trends are radically altered, fewer than three in ten 19 year olds will achieve basic standards of competency in communication, numeracy and IT by the year 2000, against a target of 75%. Likewise only four in ten of the workforce will have achieved at least NVQ3 or its equivalent, against a target of 60%. But is the answer for companies to run schools directly, as envisaged under education action zones?
Previous experience with city technology colleges shows few firms really want to get that heavily involved. Most lack the skills necessary to manage effectively the bubbling cauldron of competing stakeholders that is the modern “failing school” – demotivated pupils, angry parents, underperforming teachers, inadequate budgets, interfering politicians – not to mention small-time drug dealers and investigative police officers.
However the plans do contain some very welcome ideas and real opportunities for companies to help make the difference. Up to now, most involvement has been piecemeal, focused on individual schools. The idea of clusters of schools, overseen for three to five years by partnership forums comprising parents, local councils and companies, allows for input at a strategic level. Relaxation of national rules on the curriculum and employment terms permits innovation. Extra money from the tax payer can only help. If this sort of corporate involvement can be seen to work, hopefully the stick-in-the-mud reaction to the government’s announcement will soon be a thing of the past.
Unless current trends are radically altered, fewer than three in ten 19 year olds will achieve basic standards of competency in communication, numeracy and IT by the year 2000.
Unless current trends are radically altered, fewer than three in ten 19 year olds will achieve basic standards of competency in communication, numeracy and IT by the year 2000, against a target of 75%. Likewise only four in ten of the workforce will have achieved at least NVQ3 or its equivalent, against a target of 60%. But is the answer for companies to run schools directly, as envisaged under education action zones?
Previous experience with city technology colleges shows few firms really want to get that heavily involved. Most lack the skills necessary to manage effectively the bubbling cauldron of competing stakeholders that is the modern “failing school” – demotivated pupils, angry parents, underperforming teachers, inadequate budgets, interfering politicians – not to mention small-time drug dealers and investigative police officers.
However the plans do contain some very welcome ideas and real opportunities for companies to help make the difference. Up to now, most involvement has been piecemeal, focused on individual schools. The idea of clusters of schools, overseen for three to five years by partnership forums comprising parents, local councils and companies, allows for input at a strategic level. Relaxation of national rules on the curriculum and employment terms permits innovation. Extra money from the tax payer can only help. If this sort of corporate involvement can be seen to work, hopefully the stick-in-the-mud reaction to the government’s announcement will soon be a thing of the past.
COMMENTS